A PROPOSAL to create an extra 12,000 homes to the east of Swindon has caused controversy due to fears about flooding, congestion and its effect on local villages.

The Eastern Development Area would see an area the size of Chippenham play host to new homes, schools and community buildings.

The Government claims the new development is essential if it is to ease a housing crisis in the south west of England.

However, opponents are worried the plan could see Swindon fall victim to congestion and possible flooding.

The East Swindon Communities Group – made up of hundreds of people concerned about the plan – asked the Adver to put 10 questions to Peter Greenhalgh, Swindon Council’s lead member for sustainability, transport and strategic planning, whose remit covers the EDA.

How much of an impact will the EDA have on Swindon?

  • “I think some elements will be very positive for Swindon. The improvements in drainage infrastructure and transport would benefit the town. It will also bring employment opportunities.

“We have to work hard to make sure the changes benefit Swindon as much as possible.”

How confident are you that the necessary funding is guaranteed to make this development a reality?

  • “While we have the current Government I have no confidence whatsoever.

“There has been a consistent trend of lack of funding for infrastructure, while at the same time they are dictating the level of growth to us.

“Until the infrastructure is guaranteed no houses will be built.”

How would a change in Government affect the development?

  • “We have to wait and see. the Conservative Party has talked about how they would manage the planning process differently to Labour. A lot depends on how the economy is doing and what savings need to be made.”

What is your view on the wisdom of building an island development on a floodplain?

  • “Any development would have to improve drainage rather than impact on it. We will not build anywhere until there has been a proper assessment, and that would bring in flood risk issues.”

What would be the effect on Covingham and Dorcan?

  • “The whole idea is to minimise any adverse impact on the residents of Swindon.

“We want to make sure there are quick links into the town centre and that adequate infrastructure is in place both for the new developments and existing areas.

“The new drainage infrastructure required for the EDA will benefit Covingham and Nythe, as well as Dorcan, and should reduce the flooding risk.”

With no new through road planned for the EDA how will the town cope with the extra traffic?

  • “We certainly don’t want to concentrate all traffic along one route. That’s why we are looking at a series of rapid transport corridors into the town centre.”

Why is land within the EDA set aside for commercial use when there are sites around the town lying empty that could be used for that purpose?

  • “It would be very foolish of the council to allow the development of 12,000 houses without having additional facilities for people to gain employment.

“It is the Government’s intention that Swindon increases its population by effectively a third over the next 20 years. That means employment opportunities have to be provided.”

Would a change of Government come too late to halt the Regional Spatial Strategy (a planning blueprint for the south west)?

  • “I am not a lawyer so it’s difficult to answer that.”

What will be done to protect villages around the EDA?

  • “We need to work with the parish councils in Oxfordshire to make sure we don’t get a situation such as what is proposed for the west of Swindon, where you would have a community divided by effectively a barrier.”

Will Dorcan Way become a dual carriageway?

  • “Not that I am aware of. The council does not have the funding to expand existing roads, even if we wanted to.”

Decision is yet to be taken over EDA

THE proposed Eastern Development Area sits on land between South Marston and Wanborough, east of the A419.

As well as 12,000 new homes the development is scheduled to include nine new schools, a fire station, shops, leisure and community facilities and a district centre.

The site has been highlighted as suitable for development in the draft Regional Spatial Strategy For The South West – a Government planning blueprint for the area over the next 20 years.

Swindon Council has prepared three different options on how to implement the EDA, each with varying degrees of whether the development would sit as part of Swindon or as a separate community.

The council’s planning committee will decide whether or not to implement any of the strategies later this year.

A public consultation on the plan ends at 4.30pm today.

Comments can be directed to forwardplanning@ swindon.gov.uk, or an online response form can be found at www.swindon.gov.uk